In a recent enforcement of Proposition 36, on Wednesday, deputies from the Chino Hills Police Station apprehended two men, identified as Jose Vasquez and Alberto Martinez. As reported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, both men were found in possession of methamphetamine, stolen credit cards, a credit card skimmer, and burglary tools in the station's lobby. The arrest occurred at approximately 11:40 A.M. at 14077 Peyton Dr., Chino Hills, CA.
While conducting a vehicle search, deputies discovered the contraband. Notably, an active warrant was out for the suspects, who had shown up in the lobby and then came under scrutiny. Both Vasquez, 42, and Martinez, 31, are residents of Norwalk, and a criminal background check revealed prior convictions, which under the new proposition, lead to enhanced charges and potential for significantly increased sentences. As stated by the Sheriff-Coroner Department, the suspects were transported to the West Valley Detention Center following their arrest.
Proposition 36, known as "The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act," has been in effect since December 18, 2024. It aims to address the state's concerns over rising homelessness, drug addiction, and theft by revising some of the measures introduced by the previous Proposition 47. This new law provides law enforcement with additional tools to enforce stricter sentencing and mandate treatment for repeat offenders, as exemplified in this recent arrest.
As reported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, under the new Penal Code 666.1, individuals with at least two prior convictions could face enhanced penalties for theft, while Penal Code 466 targets those in possession of burglary tools. A further addition includes Health and Safety Code 11395(b)(1), which necessitates mandated treatment for certain offenses. In this case, the application of Proposition 36 was directly affecting the potential outcomes for Vasquez and Martinez, ensuring that they were held in custody instead of being cited and released.
The cases are now processed under the case number 222501202, with Deputy Frank Lopez referred to as the contact person. For any inquiries, the Chino Hills Station can be reached at 909-463-2001.
